Cool (Jonas Brothers song)
"Cool" is a song by American pop group the Jonas Brothers. It was released on April 5, 2019, through Republic Records as the second single off their fifth studio album, Happiness Begins (2019).[1] The group co-wrote the song with Casey Smith and its producers Ryan Tedder and Zach Skelton. "Cool" is a midtempo summer pop song that features "strums", "vocal processors" and "stomp-clap beats" in its instrumentation. Lyrically, the song makes several pop culture references.
"Cool"
April 5, 2019
2018
2:47
- Nicholas Jonas
- Joseph Jonas
- Kevin Jonas II
- Ryan Tedder
- Zach Skelton
- Casey Smith
- Ryan Tedder
- Zach Skelton
Upon release, "Cool" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, who praised its nostalgic "feel-good" and "summer" vibes and a "sing-along" chorus. Commercially, the song debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the UK Singles Chart, in addition to reaching top 40 in charts of numerous territories including Canada, Hungary, Ireland, and Scotland. It was awarded with a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and a platinum one from Music Canada.
A colorful retro-inspired 1980s Miami Vice styled music video, directed by Anthony Mandler was uploaded to the band's official YouTube channel on April 5, 2019, to accompany the song's release. To promote the song, Jonas Brothers performed "Cool" on Saturday Night Live and on the season finale of The Voice. It was also included in the set list of the band's Happiness Begins Tour (2019–2020).
Critical reception[edit]
Upon its release, "Cool" was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. Mike Nied of Idolator appreciated the "summer vibes" of the song along with its "nostalgia-inducing lyrics" and "sing-along chorus" and regarded it as an album highlight.[16] Chris DeVille from Stereogum shared a similar view writing, "The antiseptic feel-good vibe continued on “Cool,” a comfortably swaying singalong about life getting better and better, again with a monstrous and undeniable hook."[17] Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork felt that the song "benefit[ed] from a hearty dose of good humor" and likened it to the group's 2006 single "Year 3000".[9] In his review of Happiness Begins for The Independent, Roison O'Connor opined that the track "establishes the dynamic for the rest of the record."[18] Writing for People, Jen Juneau deemed it as the "perfect summer anthem."[19] Writing for Paper magazine, Brendan Whitmore compared "Cool" sonically to the band's 2008 singles, "Lovebug" and "Burnin' Up" but "complete with a quintessential Nick falsetto."[20]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, "Cool" debuted and peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted at number three on the Digital Song Sales chart with 29,000 downloads and 13.5 million streams.[21] The song reached top 10 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart becoming the band's second single to do so. The song peaked at number 34 on the Canadian Hot 100,[22] number 39 on the UK Singles Chart[23] and number nine on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.[24] The song also reached the record charts in Australia, Scotland, Ireland and Hungary, among others.[25][26][27] The song has been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and platinum by Music Canada.[28][29]